1. to make something happen, especially something bad or unpleasant
導致（尤指壞事或不愉快的事）發生
The heavy rain caused severe flooding in the city.
大雨導致城市發生嚴重水災。
Eating too much sugar can cause health problems.
攝取過多糖分會導致健康問題。
Cause Meaning（定義、用法、例句與發音）
cause
verb
快速理解
What does "Cause" mean?What are 2-3 core uses of "Cause"?
「cause」作為動詞，主要指引發或導致某事件、狀態或結果。
- 1
導致事件或結果
EN: to make something happen, especially something bad or unpleasant
翻譯: 導致（尤指壞事或不愉快的事）發生
- 2
引起特定反應或感覺
EN: to make someone feel or think something
翻譯: 引起某人的特定感受或想法
- 3
成為...的原因
EN: to be the reason why something exists or happens
翻譯: 成為某事物存在或發生的原因
- 4
促使採取行動
EN: to give someone a reason to do something
翻譯: 促使某人採取某項行動
小提醒：注意「cause」通常帶有負面或中性的因果關係，較少用於描述正面結果的引發。常見搭配為「cause + 名詞（問題、麻煩、傷害等）」或「cause someone/something to do something」。
發音（How to Pronounce "Cause" in English）
How to pronounce "Cause" in English?"Cause" US vs UK pronunciation
點擊下方的 US / UK 按鈕可播放發音。
Real-life Examples of "Cause" from YouTube Videos
Steven Schwaitzberg: A universal translator for surgeons
TED
“In particular, nobody wants an operation with tools like these, through large incisions that cause a lot of pain, that cause a lot of time out of work or out of school, that leave a big scar.”
(1 out of 120)
Definitions（定義）
What are the definitions of "Cause"?How does "Cause" change by context?
2. to be the reason why someone does something or feels a certain way
引起（某人做某事或產生某種感受）
His rude comment caused her a lot of distress.
他粗魯的言論引起她極大的苦惱。
What caused you to change your mind?
是什麼原因讓你改變了主意？
3. to create a situation that requires a particular action or response
造成（需要特定行動或回應的狀況）
The accident caused a major traffic jam on the highway.
這起事故在高速公路上造成了嚴重的交通堵塞。
The software bug caused the entire system to crash.
這個軟體錯誤造成整個系統當機。
Grammar & Patterns（句型）
What are common sentence patterns for "Cause"?How to make natural sentences with "Cause"?
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| cause + noun | 導致（某事物） | The heavy rain caused flooding. (大雨導致了洪水。) |
| cause + noun + to + verb | 使（某人/某物）做某事 | The news caused him to panic. (這個消息使他驚慌失措。) |
| cause + noun + noun | 造成（某種結果或狀況） | The malfunction caused a major delay. (這個故障造成了嚴重的延誤。) |
| be caused by + noun | 由...引起/造成 | The accident was caused by human error. (這起事故是由人為失誤造成的。) |
| cause + trouble/problems/damage | 引起麻煩/問題/損害 | The new policy is causing a lot of problems. (新政策正在引起許多問題。) |
用法說明
How is "Cause" different from similar structures?What usage mistakes are common with "Cause"?
cause doing vs cause to do
- cause + 名詞/代名詞 + to + 動詞原形 是標準且最常見的結構，表示「導致某人/某物去做某事」。
- cause + 動名詞 (doing) 的用法非常罕見且不自然，通常應避免使用。
- 在正式或一般寫作中，應一律使用 cause someone/something to do something 的句型。
- 被動語態中，也使用 be caused to do 的形式。 EN: The loud noise caused the baby to wake up and cry. 翻譯: 巨大的噪音導致嬰兒醒來大哭。
EN:The new policy caused many employees to reconsider their future.
翻譯:新政策導致許多員工重新考慮他們的未來。
總結建議
建議一律使用「cause + 受詞 + to + 動詞原形」的結構，避免使用「cause doing」。
易混淆對比
What is the difference between "Cause" and similar words?How to choose "Cause" vs alternatives?
cause vs lead to
「cause」強調直接引發某個結果，常帶有負面意涵或明確的因果關係；「lead to」則描述一系列事件最終導致的結果，過程可能較間接，結果可好可壞。
cause vs result in
「cause」著重於行為或事件是結果的起因；「result in」則更正式，強調最終產生的具體後果或效果。
cause vs trigger
「cause」指一般性的導致；「trigger」則指像扣動扳機一樣，突然引發一系列連鎖反應或敏感事件。
口語用法
How is "Cause" used in spoken English?What is the spoken vs formal difference for "Cause"?
引述
在口語中，常用來引述或轉述他人認為的起因。 EN: He was like, "What caused the delay?" 翻譯: 他當時就說：「是什麼造成了延誤？」
EN:Everyone's asking what caused the problem.
翻譯:大家都在問是什麼導致了這個問題。
語氣強調
與副詞連用，強調因果關係的強度或明顯性。 EN: That totally caused the whole system to crash. 翻譯: 那完全導致了整個系統當機。
EN:It basically causes more trouble than it's worth.
翻譯:這基本上引起的麻煩比它的價值還多。
停頓填充
在組織思緒或尋找確切字眼時，作為填充詞的一部分。 EN: The thing that, you know, caused the issue... was a tiny bug. 翻譯: 那個，你知道的，導致問題的東西…是一個小錯誤。
EN:So, what caused, um, the change in plans?
翻譯:所以，是什麼導致了，嗯，計畫的改變？
注意：以上口語用法（如引述、填充詞）在正式寫作或學術報告中應避免，應使用更精確、完整的句子結構。
常見短語
What common collocations use "Cause"?What fixed phrases with "Cause" should I remember?
cause a problem
cause + a + problem
引發問題
cause damage
cause + damage
造成損害
cause concern
cause + concern
引起擔憂
cause a delay
cause + a + delay
導致延誤
cause confusion
cause + confusion
造成混淆
cause and effect
cause + and + effect
因果關係
cause something to happen
cause + something + to + happen
導致某事發生
常見錯誤
What are common mistakes with "Cause"?Which "Cause" sentences look correct but are wrong?
×The accident was caused by the driver was tired.
✓The accident was caused by the driver's tiredness. / The accident was caused because the driver was tired.
在 'caused by' 後面應接名詞或名詞片語，而不是一個完整的子句。若要表達原因是一個事件或狀態，應使用名詞形式或改用 'because' 引導的子句。
×He caused me feel angry.
✓He caused me to feel angry.
動詞 'cause' 的正確句型是 'cause + 受詞 + to + 動詞原形'。必須使用不定詞 'to + V'，而不是省略 'to' 的動詞原形。
×What caused to the problem?
✓What caused the problem?
'Cause' 是及物動詞，後面直接接受詞（造成的事物），不需要介系詞 'to'。'Cause to' 僅用於前述的 'cause someone to do something' 句型中。
×The news caused a great excitement.
✓The news caused great excitement.
當 'cause' 的受詞是抽象、不可數的情感或狀態名詞（如 excitement, trouble, damage, concern）時，通常不加不定冠詞 'a/an'，除非該名詞有形容詞修飾且指涉一個特定、可區分的實例。
×I caused him an accident.
✓I caused an accident (that involved him). / I was the cause of his accident.
'Cause' 通常不接雙受詞（如 give someone something）。更自然的說法是直接說明造成了什麼事（cause + something），或使用其他表達方式如 'was the cause of' 來連結事件與相關的人。
×It's causing that I can't sleep.
✓It's causing me to be unable to sleep. / It's causing my insomnia.
'Cause' 後面不能直接接 'that' 引導的名詞子句。必須使用 'cause + 受詞 + to + V' 的結構，或將後面的概念轉成名詞片語作為受詞。
詞形變化
What are the word forms of "Cause"?What are tense/participle forms of "Cause"?
causes(3rd_singular)causing(present_participle)caused(past)caused(past_participle)